Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy to make funding available for woodland planting to help with water retention during times of flooding.

Flood risk management is one of the targeting criteria for woodland creation funded through the new Countryside Stewardship scheme. The Forestry Commission also continues to undertake research into understanding what role woodlands can play in managing flood risk. Defra and the Environment Agency will continue to support investigations into the potential benefits of land management change on flood risk - including tree planting.